After an extended opening statement, the first two media questions pertained to a Patrick Dowd campaign blitz launched earlier this morning.

Dowd accused Ravenstahl of supporting risky variable rate bond swap deals at the Water & Sewer Authority, which are exposing city ratepayers to "enormous and unconscionable risk", the only apparent beneficiaries of which are the "hand-picked firms that made the transaction possible."

When asked for comment, former City of Pittsburgh Finance Director Jim Turner said, "When I was a young man in my 30's, I too was impressed with Wall Street and the corporate jets and the wining and dining that goes along with bond issues -- but I quickly learned that far too often, complex deals like this are driven by investment banking fees which is why I have become a strong believer in simple fixed rate bond issues..." (Dowd press material)

Ravenstahl said in response that this is a very "complex issue" that will be addressed in a separate press conference today at 2:00. In response to the 2nd question, he just said curtly, "Two o'clock". The remainder of the press inquiries had to do with his "Blueprint" and other matters.

The P-G's Rich Lord asked about Blueprint Item #5, "Enhance government services through efficiency and ultimately a City/County merger". What examples did the mayor have of his "getting it done" in this regard, and what is the time frame for getting it done?

The Mayor's response was that he is working diligently with Harrisburg to get the question of full-on City/County consolidation on the ballot. He did not hold forth on any topics related to increased service efficiencies or functional, intergovernmental collaboration. It was all about the Hail Mary.

45 comments:

So the Lukeformayor website has expanded, and has the 11 items for a new Pittsburgh Renaissance on there. I guess the Mayor is once again blurring the lines between his campaign and his activities as Mayor.

Meanwhile, typical of the Mayor, there are no details accompanying the 11 items. It's possible he will offer more details, but he never has in the past (that I can remember). But the Dowd website is looking a little sparse now by comparison. Dowd will need to convince the average voter that he has plans that are not just talking points (and at the moment I don’t know how he does that).

Yeah, what about Harris? Hey, Pittsburgh electorate! Are you interested in voting for a young, dynamic, exciting leader with the sizzle of real celebrity? Let me interest you in the Dok Harris campaign!! That's forging Pittsburgh forward!

It's a good move for Dok either way, win or lose on this occasion. And you know, why DON'T we have a strong Independent challenger in this town, already?

I suppose one could have assumed the same about Dowd's campaign: it's a good move for him either way. But after this all-out lashing by Dowd of Steelerstahl and his finance minister Scott Kunka, about how they're letting Pittsburgh get conned by Wall Street traders after the rest of the country and the world already figured out that they're playing us, you've got to figure Patrick's in it to win it.

KDKA's Harold Hayes has a good report on the Ravenstahl blueprint, and a little of the rest.

http://kdka.com/video/?id=54479@kdka.dayport.com

Dowd did vote to approve a technicality related to the last bond deal in April 2008, by a 9-0 vote in his fourth month on Council.

It is an executive's job to prepare a plan, and bring a good one to the table. Especially in regards to these Authorities, which Council little controls. Maybe Dowd should have brought the revolution at that time. No doubt the Water Authority and the Finance Department were breathing down the Council's neck (as usual) talking about act now! Window of opportunity closing fast! No time to get all legislative processy!

"Yeah, what about Harris? Hey, Pittsburgh electorate! Are you interested in voting for a young, dynamic, exciting leader with the sizzle of real celebrity? Let me interest you in the Dok Harris campaign!! That's forging Pittsburgh forward!"

its going to take an "immaculate reception" from voters to can luke and his cronies. its taken luke this long to come out with an "11 point" plan. Dowd or Harris would be far better. Luke's had his chance.

Dowd accused Ravenstahl of supporting risky variable rate bond swap deals at the Water & Sewer Authority, which are exposing city ratepayers to "enormous and unconscionable risk", the only apparent beneficiaries of which are the "hand-picked firms that made the transaction possible."

When asked for comment, former City of Pittsburgh Finance Director Jim Turner said, "When I was a young man in my 30's, I too was impressed with Wall Street and the corporate jets and the wining and dining that goes along with bond issues -- but I quickly learned that far too often, complex deals like this are driven by investment banking fees which is why I have become a strong believer in simple fixed rate bond issues...

The quote from Jim Turner is very interesting. Why would Ravenstahl support risky variable rate bond swap deals at the Water & Sewer Authority? These transactions obviously didn't benefit the citizens of Pittsburgh. Now, in addition to the rate increases we are seeing to upgrade the sewer lines, we are going to end up paying even higher fees because of these unconventional bond deals.

Key questions: What did Luke and his administration get in return for putting PWSA customers at unnecessary levels of risk? wining, dining and corporate jet rides? something more?

At least now, because Dr. Dowd is on that board, the public will have an understanding of why their bills are so high.

Late tomorrow (not early tomorrow) we're going to put up a nice long post that explains this Water Authority issue real easy-like. If you happen work on the 5th floor or in the media, it shouldn't be anything you haven't seen before. This thing is gonna get interesting in a big hurry.

Matt, looking forward to your expose. I know we can rely on you to be brutal. :->

Matt, I think you just proved that you are perhaps the biggest sleaze ball in Pittsburgh.

Perhaps the Dok Harris folks will not be as gentle with you as the DeSantis folks. I think that would be swell to be honest. It would be funny to watch you wince and cry about things being "off-limits" and such.

Bram, Could you open up a new post just for the bashing? There may be a quite a bit of it coming up in the next few weeks and I would hate to see otherwise good posts get cluttered up with retorts to his garbage.

Oh course, if he had a blog where he did not censor comments then this would not happen.

Matt, I think you just proved that you are perhaps the biggest sleaze ball in Pittsburgh.

He is a "sleaze ball" not only because he didn't even write what was posted under his name on his blog but a lot of what he posted is untrue. The only thing Matt Hoagie gets credit for is lifting those pictures, which are hardly damaging, off of Dok's facebook page.

Speaking of lifting facebook photos - is that legal? Didn't Matt Hoagie violate Facebook's copyright terms, as well as the DMCA? I'm sure if Dok Harris wanted to he could get you to remove those photos Hoagie, or maybe even sue your ass for libel since you did post false information on your blog about him.

Facebook complies with the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (17 U.S.C. § 512), also known as the DMCA. The DMCA provides a simple procedure for copyright owners to report content that infringes their copyrights. Please be aware that the DMCA makes copyright owners liable if they materially misrepresent that a user's content is infringing.

To report a copyright infringement by a Facebook user, all you need to do is fill out our automated DMCA form. This form is the fastest way to report a copyright infringement.

If you prefer, you can also send an email to ip@facebook.com. You will need to include all of the notice elements listed in the DMCA at 17 U.S.C. § 512(c)(3). You can also find these elements listed in our automated DMCA form.

If you've been following Matt's blog it is easy to detect that someone else wrote what he posted. I also noticed a few clues in there that make it obvious that the individual who wrote it either knew Dok personally or is at least close to someone who does. In this instance I think Matt Hoagie is just a tool or one of the mayor's henchmen. It would be a shame though if Matt got sued all because he just did what someone told him to do.

Matt, quick question - Did you receive my comment to one of your recent posts about the the endorsement? I think I termed the Wagners "the Gods of February and March". I didn't see it come up on your blog ... but then again I may have thought better of publishing it and canceled the operation. It happens.

I know it has always seemed to me like you are very straight and fair in how you moderate your comments.

"I know it has always seemed to me like you are very straight and fair in how you moderate your comments."

Hey Bram. Are you and Matt teaming up? To suggest that he is fair in the way he moderates his comments is pathetic. I wonder what dirt he has on you that keeps you from calling him out.

Be a man and just say no. You will feel better about yourself. I know you took some hits lately about your profession. You think he had nothing to do with that? You better think again. I heard the rumors.

your talking about suing someone because of a few pics. you have way too much time on your hands.

why should matt be afarid of the Harris folks? Not that I am OK with it but Matt is so entrenched with who runs this city it's ridiculous. All you have to do is to be at the events and see who he sits with and whom he talks with. Whether you like it or not the guy has unlimited access to all the decision makers in this town.

why do you think this guy works on so many campaigns? he knows his ground game and he is good at it.

Matt saying that he looks like Ron Jeremy is a big deal because why? late nighter comedians and other folks on radio & tv are always saying stuff like that but you don't see all the flames and pitchforks that you guys bring out when Matt says something.

You look for the littlest of things in his posts to try and bring him down. You try and try and try and yet his viewership is always bigger and bigger.

You folks are upset because of the people who he hangs out with aren't whom you support. That's the bottom line.

The Hoagie had nothing to do with Brams profession. If he & Bram are as chummy as you claim they are then he has known his profession for some time.

Quit trying to paint a picture that just isn't there. Just like the people who claim that hes running the PGH LEFT blog. That is a total reach by any means. Why would he run another blog when he just posts what he wants on his blog? How much sense does that make?

1. I've always considered that fellow Facebook users lifting stuff from others' Facebook pages to be UNCOOL. Unless its done in a generous spirit and you feel comfortable it'll be a nice surprise. Oddly I don't feel the same way about Twitter (which is "microblogging"). I don't know nothin' about no copyright law.

2. If he posted information that is false, Schultz, do correct the record. And not technical, shade-of-meaning untruth, but real libel.

Luke is a dipshit and the only thing more pathetic than his lack of leadership... are people like "Ravenstahl Rocks" that kiss his ass for a job, when deep down they know how pathetic Luke Steerstahl truly is.

"It surprises me that Matt acts so tough online but let his girlfriend get her butt kicked right in front of his face.

What a guy.

March 10, 2009 11:26 AM"

You have it wrong just like you have had it wrong since you started posting that crap on all of the blogs over the past 2 months.

Here is what happened straight from the horses mouth.

"-Let me start off the week by giving a big thank you to Pittsburgh Police Sergeant Ray Rippole who provided excellent police work and assistance on Saturday night at Diesel nightclub on Carson Street. After an altercation inside the club where my girlfriend was assaulted by an intoxicated patron Sgt. Rippole took the report for us and is pressing charges against the aggressor who was from Homestead. Outside of the club I found some time to catch up with Sgt. Rippole to personally thank him for his patience and assistance that night."

WHERE DOES IT SAY THAT HE STOOD BY WHILE SHE WAS BEAT UP? from the sounds of it she was assaulted by an intoxicated person. Was Matt H even right there at that moment? Was he at the bar? Was he in the bathroom? You just assume he stood there and watched.

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